Jamie Condliffe

While the rest of the US struggles out of the mire of recession, Silicon Valley is skipping towards a rosy sunset and cashing its generous pay checks. More so than ever, in fact—because a report suggests job growth in the Valley now matches the dot-com boom era. Uh, yay?

The 2013 Silicon Valley Index found that employment growth in the region has returned to levels last seen in the late 1990s. In 2012, 46 percent of the Bay Area's 92,000 new jobs were found in Silicon Valley—and it boasted a growth rate of 3.6 percent compared to the state average of 1.7 percent. Joint Venture Silicon Valley president Russell Hancock says:

"This is prodigious job creation. The growth is crazy and it's getting crazier."

So, that's either thrilling or terrifying depending on your perspective. Of course, this time it'll be more sustainable than back in the 90s, right? Right. Of course. [Mercury News]